Should You Be Reverse Washing Your Hair?

You’ve spent years following the hair washing rule book like its gospel: shampoo, rinse, condition, rinse, dry. But if va-va-voom volume is your definition of a good hair day, it might be time to toss out the rule book and read up on reverse washing.

The process is much like it sounds: first you condition your hair, then you shampoo, ensuring any heavy conditioner residue is rinsed out, so your hair isn’t weighed down. It’s that simple.

It might sound counter-intuitive, but according to celebrity hairstylist and global Tresemme ambassador Justine Marjan, reverse washing is great for fine and oily hair types who still want the hydrating benefits of conditioner without the excess weight and moisture.

“Often, shampoo can strip too many oils from the hair, which is why we use conditioner immediately after shampooing, but conditioner can be too heavy for some hair types,” Marjan, the woman behind Chrissy Teigen and the Kardashian sister’s locks, explains.

But don’t write off the reverse take if you’ve got thick or dry hair. The flipped wash can be used to achieve different textures and to add volume for when you want to achieve Fran ‘The Nanny’ Fine level waves.

“The hair absorbs just the right amount of moisture it needs from the conditioner and the excess is removed with the shampoo. This leaves the hair perfectly moisturised without feeling heavy, greasy or full of build-up, making it easier to get volume and hold.” Try: TRESemmé Beauty-Full Volume Pre-Wash Conditioner, $10.99

And unlike the time you attempted to do your own at-home balayage, this experiment is pretty low risk – you can always revert back to the tried and tested method if you don’t dig it.